Can You Take Hair Straighteners On A Plane? Yes! Basic Information

Can you bring a hair straightener on a plane? Or will you have to forgo your hairstyle out of concern that it will be taken away? 

According to the TSA, you’re allowed to bring hair straighteners with cords in checked luggage and hand luggage. You may bring any kind and any brand as long as it has a cord because there are no additional restrictions.

Contrary to what their name suggests, hair straighteners do more than just make hair straight. One device can quickly transform your hair from curly to straight, which is their biggest selling point. 

For this reason, it’s always practical to bring along a reliable pair in your travel beauty kit. After all, you always want to look your best! 

Do you want to learn more about hair straighteners? Continue reading…

Hair Straighteners Are Allowed On Airplanes

Carrying On Bags

Hair straighteners with cords and those powered by gas, butane, lithium metal, or lithium-ion batteries are permitted in carry-on luggage, according to the TSA.

The heating element must have a safety cover that is tightly fastened over it, and the gadget must also be guarded against unintentional activation.

Checking Bags

Hair straighteners must be corded, not contain lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries, or, if they are cordless, be powered by gas or butane. They also cannot be cordless if they are cordless.

This is due to the fire risk posed by straighteners that are powered by lithium and lithium-ion batteries, as well as models that run on gas or butane.

Domestic VS. International Flights

The same regulations apply whether you’re traveling domestically within the United States or abroad.

Accordingly, corded hair straighteners are acceptable in both your carry-on and checked bags as long as they don’t contain batteries or gas or fuel cartridges.

It is required to pack carry-on bags for cordless hair straighteners that are powered by gas or butane, have lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries, or both.

Hair Straighteners Types 

Hair straighteners can be roughly divided into two types for the purpose of determining how they should be transported on a plane.

Butane-fuelled Hair Straighteners

A cordless hair straightener that runs on butane is known as a butane hair straightener. Gaseous butane is incredibly flammable. These hair straighteners contain a cartridge with this gas inside of it.

Butane-powered hair straighteners are less common than butane-powered curling irons. However, because of how simple they are to use and how convenient they are, some women prefer to use these.

The heating element of these hair straighteners must be covered, however, due to the fact that they are flammable, if you want to bring them on a plane. Making sure the device can’t be accidentally turned on is also important.

Additionally, keep in mind that neither your checked nor your carry-on luggage may contain the refill cartridges for these hair straighteners.

Regular Hair Straighteners

Regular hair straighteners have a cord that needs to be connected to a power source. You can straighten or style your hair using the device after the power supply has heated it up.

Consequently, the majority of hair straighteners on the market, including ceramic, titanium, tourmaline, etc. fall in this category and can be safely carried on a plane.

What To Consider When Pack A Hair Straightener

Beware of different power supply voltages when traveling with a hair straightener. 

Be sure to pack transformer packs and outlet adapters to control the voltage. Make sure you don’t immediately plug in your hair straightener in Europe lest it fries because the 220 to 240 volts power supply isn’t compatible with the majority of US styling tools there. 

Purchase a dual-voltage hair straightener that can work with 110 and 220 volts if at all possible. 

Additionally, it is important to review the country’s flight restrictions while you are there. Despite the fact that hair straighteners are permitted on US airplanes, local standards of travel are far from universal. You most definitely don’t want your hair straightener to be taken away during screening or check-in!  

Will Hair Straighteners Function Abroad?

The outlets and voltages in various nations vary.

This implies that, depending on where you are traveling to, your hair straighteners may not function outside of the country without taking additional measures.

Non-dual-voltage straighteners require a voltage converter in addition to an adapter in order to operate abroad, though you can typically purchase an adapter that also changes the voltage. Dual-voltage straighteners only require a travel adapter to function.

Your hair straighteners may have text that reads 100/240V or something similar printed on the handle, base, or plug to indicate that it is dual-voltage and will work abroad.

The voltage ranges from 220 to 240 volts everywhere else, but is typically 120 volts in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other Central and Latin American nations.

Check With Airline If You Are Unsure

No matter what the TSA says, every airline has its own set of safety guidelines. Although security may allow you to bring your flat irons and hair straighteners with you onto the plane, keep in mind that your specific airline carrier may have more strict requirements. They might have additional items on their own list of forbidden items.

Check your TSA list before packing, as both United Airlines and Southwest advise their customers to do. You might have hidden a prohibited item in a pocket somewhere. This is the reason you should carefully check all of your compartments to make sure that nothing that may now be illegal makes it onto your trip and puts you in a difficult situation at the security screening counter.

Personally, I wouldn’t give it a second thought and bring an electric corded hair styling tool on any airline. However, I would double-check my airline’s policies if I were bringing a gas canister of any kind on a flight.

The TSA offers a convenient notification of prohibited items by email service, which can help you stay up to date on the myriad changes to their list of prohibited items. To receive free email notifications from the TSA whenever they make any changes, sign up for this service. If they change this list in the future, they will notify you by emailing your provided address.

Beware International Power Supply Voltages

Okay, so you’re packing your electric hair straighteners…

However, keep in mind to consider your destination’s power options.

Your electric flat irons most likely won’t function abroad. Make sure to pack both the larger transformer packs and electrical outlet adapters if you insist on taking them on your trip. This will allow you to step down the higher voltage electricity from other countries without risking damaging your curling iron.

Buying a plug adapter is insufficient. The majority of hair styling tools made in the US will burn out when used with the 220 & 240 volt power supply in Europe.

Travel hair straighteners that are made for international travel are available to purchase. These are frequently more compact for easy packing and dual voltage compatible, accepting an input voltage range of 110v to 220v.

In some countries, you would still require a plug socket adapter; make sure it is right for the wattage of your device.

The ability to pack a travel-sized hair straightener would be more convenient given that hand luggage limits appear to be getting smaller and smaller. You should give it some thought. But I’ll leave it up to you to judge whether or not they can rival your GHD’s at straightening hair.

What About Other Styling Tools For Hair?

So far, we’ve talked about how to bring a hair straightener, dryer, curling iron, and hair rollers on a plane. But I’m sure you’ll want to pack a ton of other hair styling supplies for your trip. I’ll discuss a few more items that are permitted on airplanes in this section.

Hair Gel

In both checked and carryon luggage, the TSA permits the use of hair gel. The TSA 3-1-1 rule, which states that each passenger must have one bag and one quart-sized bag, must be followed if you plan to transport it in hand luggage.

Combs And Brushes

Combs and brushes with blunt ends and those made of plastic are permitted in both checked and carry-on luggage. Metal combs are not permitted on airplanes, though. Don’t carry these combs, therefore.

Hair Spray

Bottles of hairspray that are less than 100 ml (3.4 oz) can be packed in your hand luggage. The combined weight of all containers in checked baggage cannot exceed 2 l (68 oz) and each one cannot contain more than 530 ml (18 oz).

Additionally, the TSA advises keeping hair spray in a clear ziplock bag with your other toiletries.

Hair Conditioner

While you are permitted to bring a hair conditioner in your carry-on and checked bags, you are only permitted to pack 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less in your carry-on.

Therefore, if you want to bring more than that, you must pack it in your checked luggage.

Electric Hot-air Brushes

Electric hot-air brushes with a cord are portable and can be stored in checked luggage, just like dryers and flat irons.

However, the same restrictions apply (you can only carry it in hand luggage) to cordless hot-air brushes that are powered by butane or gas.

FAQs About Carrying A Hair Straightener On A Plane

What’s the best way to store my hair straightener in my carry-on?

The majority of airline baggage policies are silent on this. The implication is that you can pack your hair straightener however you like.

Having said that, as was mentioned above, if you are traveling with a butane-powered hair straightener, you must pack it safely in your hand luggage so that the heating element is completely covered and the appliance won’t turn on by accident.

Does the hair straightener need to be placed in a transparent bag?

No, only liquids must be packed in transparent bags according to the rule. A hair straightener can be transported in its carrying case or protective cover. You can actually pack it however you like, unless it is a butane hair straightener.

The above-described packing requirements must be followed when shipping butane hair straighteners.

Do I have to remove my hair straightener from my bag during the baggage screening process?

No, unless specifically requested to do so by a security officer, a hair straightener does not need to be removed from your hand luggage and screened separately.

Do I have permission to check my hair straightener?

It is acceptable to store your hair straightener in your checked luggage. Butane-powered hair straighteners must strictly be transported as described above in your hand luggage.

Can I bring a hair dryer on a flight?

Hairdryers are permitted in both checked and hand luggage.

Can I bring a cordless straightening iron on a plane?

You may bring a cordless hair straightener that is not butane-powered on a plane in both your checked and carry-on bags.

Conclusion

So, can you take hair straighteners on a plane?

The TSA states there are no restrictions on how many hair straighteners you can bring on board and that they are permitted in both checked and carry-on luggage. You are only allowed to bring one butane or gas-powered flat iron, and it must be securely stowed in a special sleeve and carried only in your carry-on. There is no room for extra gas or butane cartridges.